Crews were going door to door Wednesday afternoon telling residents to evacuate their homes.
Close to 250 homes were evacuated in Highland.
The Knight family said water and mud was pouring into the family's Highland home when they loaded the kids into the family car and tried to escape.
"The mud was so deep I had to take my shoes off because I couldn't walk," said Knight.
The Knights are staying with relatives temporarily but the loss of their home is a big blow.
"My 12-year-old son, being 12, he's like 'It's Christmas mom,' and it's just a bad time," said Lorraine Knight.
Authorities say the mudslide danger may not be over yet.
"If it's still raining up in the mountains that water is coming down here and that's the problem," said Bill Peters with Cal Fire.
The Santa Ana River came close to cresting the Van Buren Bridge Wednesday morning.
In the City Creek area in San Bernardino County, the five-day downpour created thick mud and debris flow that washed away Boulder Creek Road Bridge.
In Apple Valley, the underground Mojave Riverbed reached a flood stage of 17 feet.
A neighborhood near the San Manuel Casino in San Bernardino had a lot of damage. Cars were up to headlights in thick mud. Cal Fire estimated that around 20 to 40 homes in the area were evacuated.
"All I heard was a big old roar and I ran downstairs to see what was happening and by the time I got downstairs, my whole backyard was flooded and by then I had a roaring river in my living room all through the downstairs. I got nothing left, nothing," said San Bernardino resident Karen Hernandez.
Officials said the mud was 3 to 4 feet deep, and added that the specific type of mud created by the overflow of rain water is strong enough to move and reposition cars and trucks.
Evacuation orders were issued Tuesday afternoon for Loma Linda residents living between 25348 - 25368 Lawton Ave.
EVACUATION CENTERS
Immanuel Baptist Church
28355 Baseline St.
Highland 92346
(909) 425-1777
San Bernardino County Fairgrounds
Building 2
14800 7th St.
Victorville 92395
(760) 951-2200
Martin Luther King High School
9301 Wood Rd.
Riverside 92508
(951) 789-5690
Dartmouth Middle School
41535 Mayberry Ave.
Hemet 92544
(951) 765-2550
ROAD CLOSURES
- Monroe Street between Lincoln Ave and Indiana Ave.
- Victoria Avenue between La Sierra and Stewart
- Victoria Avenue between Adams and St Lawrence
- Chicago Avenue between Central Avenue and Le Conte
- Linden Avenue at Nikki
Riverside Interchange Closures
SB 215 transition ramp to SB 60/215
EB 91 transition ramp to SB 60/215
SB 60/215 #3 lane from the interchange to Chicago
Van Buren Boulevard Bridge at Santa Ana River will also be closed through the night.
